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POLITICO 44

A Republican effort to repeal the individual mandate in the Democrats’ health care overhaul failed Tuesday afternoon on a largely partisan vote.

Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, called for the repeal under a “motion to recommit” — a parliamentary tool often used by the minority party to change bills on the House floor. Never mind that the bill Camp is using for this maneuver is a small business tax bill — Republicans wanted to get Democrats on the record once again saying they back a law that requires uninsured Americans to purchase health insurance.

The procedural motion never really had a shot at passing, but that wasn't the Republicans' point. The vote was 187-230, with 21 Democrats voting to roll back the individual mandate. The votes were essentially the same as the final vote on the health care law.

“The American people continue to oppose the Democrats’ health care law,” Camp said. “We have listened to their concerns and are taking the opportunity to repeal one of the most onerous provisions — the individual mandate that, while exempting illegal immigrants, forces Americans to buy government-approved health insurance or pay a tax if they don’t.”

The individual mandate was the foundation of the Democrats’ push for the health care overhaul, bringing more consumers into the marketplace, but it remains one of the most unpopular parts of the health reform law.

“This is a first step in Republicans’ efforts to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common sense, step-by-step reforms to lower costs,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote in an e-mailed statement to POLITICO.

Republicans have been unified in their opposition to the individual mandate, repeatedly claiming that the government does not have the authority to force Americans to buy health insurance. Some Republicans have said the mandate is unconstitutional.

This push is part of a larger House Republican strategy to use a new online platform to bring Americans closer to governing. This idea was previewed by Camp on “America Speaking Out,” the GOP website meant to develop a legislative agenda.

Democrats have taken issue with Republicans’ floor tactics of late. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) brushed aside the GOP’s motions to recommit as purely political.

Doug Thornell, a Democratic leadership aide, said that Republicans were trying to roll back one of their own ideas.

"This was at the heart of Romneycare in Massachusetts and the GOP counterproposal in ‘93 and it has worked. If Republicans want to go on record having voted to raise premiums in the exchange by nearly 40% and severely undermine employer sponsored healthcare they can go ahead and try."

Readers' Comments (110)

This move by House GOPers is just a political move, as Steny Hoyer says. There are already law suits filed and as yet not heard on this very item. But no, the GOP is just concerned with head lines and getting re-elected. This is not in response to their new "sham" web site, its just political point scoring. So they can tell their home constitutents "I tried", but the Democrats wouldn't let me win. This is just whinning and trickery by the House GOP. Do something serious like on energy policy, financial reform and immigration. Then maybe I'll believe in the GOP.

"I want you to get in their face" to quote The One. In my case I want the republicans to keep after this until the terrible bill has been replaced with something that isn't a union/illegals hand out at my expense. Make no mistake, obamacare will be the end of the progressive rule in America.

“This is a first step in Republicans’ efforts to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common sense, step-by-step reforms to lower costs,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote in an e-mailed statement to POLITICO.

With the exposure of Obamacare, most recently that 51% of existing health insurance plans will not be compliant with the new law, people are icreasingly aware of how bad a bill this thing is. There is a resistance of 58% of Americans to this thing and they want it repealed.

The more Obamacare is pained on the Dems the better for the Nov elections. Barry has the most wooden ear of any president since Carter. Probably a bigger fool.

“This is a first step in Republicans’ efforts to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common sense, step-by-step reforms to lower costs,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote in an e-mailed statement to POLITICO.

Translation: We won't spend a penny to extend health care to millions more American citizens. We don't care if the health system fails if it means we score political points against the Democratic majority.

I agree with MaryMarlene. They do seem more focused on re-election. I think they had their chance for fiscal responsibility and small government from 2000-2008. Wish they would stop acting like sore losers and just do their job of governing.

The GOP seems more concerned with regaining control of the House and Senate than working seriously on the problems at hand. If they had been more cooperative during the health care reform process, we possibly could have had an even better bill.

Wasn't the GOP that cried foul over the possible use of reconciliation by the Democrats? It seems like they have a double standard for most things...its ok when they do it, but not when the Democrats do it.

Danhan...state your sources for those polls. If they were from FoxNews.com, those aren't real polls.

I would really like to see the Repubs do something to freeze the health insurers from jacking their premiums up more and more before 2014 comes around. All Americans needing health coverage and those being forced to take it, are not protected from the greed of these companies. They have basically been give a free shot at ripping the people off before they come under government controls. Already in today’s news there are reports of health insurance cost being jacked up next year that may force people into taking higher deductibles and higher out of pocket amounts. Thank you Mr. President.

I think the media (and many Americans) don't recognize the value of a president that actually gets the facts, does his homework, evaluates the situation and then decides what to do. This is leadership, not "dithering'. Do we as Americans want the President to call every shot by the gut? I don't. I appreciate his thoroughness and his systematic problem solving style. Plus, he not only has the oil spill to think about...there's also Afghanistan, Iran, energy independence, immigration...all of which are complicated issues. Like the president said, 'if they were easy problems to solve, it would have happened long ago". Thinking through problems does not make for good TV, though.

I think the thing that bothers me about the GOP in the past 1 1/2 years is that no matter what the president does, he is severely criticized. I think the president could accomplish even more if he didn't have to waste time fighting off every attack. Where is the American spirit of cooperation?

If we are not careful as a nation, we are going to get to the point where no one wants to run for the presidency...except for maybe crazy people. I wish the negativeness would get toned down...we don't have to agree, but we can be civil and give credit where credit is due.

Over 20 states are challenging the constitutionality of the Obamacare individual mandate. My own state, Missouri, passed the Healthcare Freedom Act which we will vote on in August to amend our state constitution, prohibiting the Federal Government from mandating health care insurance policy purchases. Many other states have passed or are considering similar measures. We the People will fight Obamacare in the courts, Congress, our state legislatures, and finally, at the ballot box. This socialist plan that violates the US Constitution must be repealed and replaced. And, in November, we will begin weeding out those who support Obamacare. By 2014, when most of the impact of Obamacare is felt (if it still exists), none of those who voted for it will remain in Congress.

I hope the dems/libs/progressives spilt this country in two. I served in the military, and now I cannot stand this place. I hope the Republic of TX breaks off soon so I join and then can be proud of my country again. This nation has become too big and complicated to rule, and their is no other course of action other than splitting up. Families do it everyday, as to other nations around the world, and I think it is time for the conservatives and libs to finally face facts that our differences cannot be overcome and that we just need to separate once an for all. Millions in this country are just waiting for the moment or a cause, and once that moment presents itself, they as I will show ourselves. That is all I and many other are doing, just waiting. I will never serve this nation again, nor will my children. This country has truned its back on itself, and frankly, I am through with it

So, if this passes, the health insurance industry is dead. Republicans just care about making headlines, not about actually helping people out. If you repeal the mandate without repealing the part that forces insurance companies to accept anyone, then they are going to lose out big time. They both need to be done at the same time or not at all.

TO: Industry of thieves. Please don't go yet! Like you I am disgusted with the past decade of politics and press. I didn't always agree with George W Bush but I respected him for his principled stands and defense of our country. But he compromised too much with the leftists and failed to foresee the significance of the corruption in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae who were following the Democrat drive to give out unsupported credit. We paid the price for this, and are still paying it. Obama is clearly a socialist, with outright communist friends, who is now driving our country bankrupt on a course of unbridled entitlement, ignoring the Constitution and will of the people. But this will not last. In November we start taking this country back. Join the Tea Party near you. Contribute to candidates you support. Work for them come election season. We have faced great threats during our country's history - this one is as bad as any before - but we shall overcome.

The only ones trying to "split this country in two" are the right-wing blowhards who despise the president and oppose every action by the administration and a Democratic Congress.

Take health care, for example.

The market-based system that President Obama signed into law is very similar to the plan that Republicans proposed as an alternative to President Clinton's universal health care law.

What's changed since then?

The rise of right-wing television and radio has allowed conservatives to flee the majority culture, and inoculate themselves from liberal ideas.

Conservatives are rejecting a democratically elected government and the democratic process itself. The political schism you lament is a cynical strategy by Republicans hoping to repeat their 1994 mid-term success.